Chris Faytok/The Star-LedgerFormer Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel takes down former Jets wide receiver Justin McCareins during a game in 2006.As Jets wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery sat in a meeting room at the team’s Florham Park complex this past week watching film of the Patriots-Bills game, he was struck by the absence of four longtime adversaries.

New England linebackers Tedy Bruschi and Mike Vrabel, safety Rodney Harrison and defensive end Richard Seymour had vanished without a trace.

During the Patriots’ much-celebrated Super Bowl run, the foursome had been as much a part of the defense — and team — as the logo on their helmets.

Together, the quartet had 45 years of NFL experience, 32 with the Patriots. Bruschi, Seymour and Vrabel were on all three Super Bowl-winning teams. Harrison was on two. The Patriots’ defense has been ranked in the top-10 in five of the past six seasons.

Bruschi and Harrison retired this past offseason, and Vrabel was traded to the Chiefs. In a shocking move, five-time Pro Bowler Seymour, in his ninth season, was dealt to the Raiders the week before the season started.

“Watching the film of (the 2009 Patriots), it’s a different feel,” said Cotchery. “There are a lot of pieces that are gone. You’re talking the heart of that team. You just knew when those guys were on the field because things were so well-coordinated. You can tell the difference with the guys that they lost.”

Said Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer: “You take away a Bruschi, Vrabel and Harrison, those were kind of their three floor leaders. It’s like taking a point guard off a basketball team. They’re in a state where they’re learning to play together.”

The Jets (1-0) will find out just how far along the Patriots (1-0) are in their defensive makeover Sunday afternoon when they meet at Giants Stadium, where the Patriots have won eight straight.

Since 2003, the Patriots are 11-2 against the Jets and have allowed more than 17 points in a game only twice.

But Patriots coach Bill Belichick finds himself facing perhaps the biggest challenge of his brilliant career. In addition to replacing Bruschi, Vrabel, Harrison and Seymour, New England has two new starting cornerbacks.

Last week, Belichick tipped his hand a bit in the 25-24 comeback victory over the Bills. He switched from a 3-4 alignment to a 4-3 scheme for most of the game. That way, he could channel all of the action inside to second-year middle linebacker Jerod Mayo, the AFC Defensive Rookie of the Year last season who had 139 tackles.

Mayo, however, suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee and is expected to be sidelined six to eight weeks. That he calls the defensive signals only compounds matters for the Pats. Belichick may have to go to yet another plan against the Jets.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if he comes out and plays us all 3-4 in this game,” said Schottenheimer.

Second-year pro Gary Guyton and fourth-year man Pierre Woods have replaced Bruschi and Vrabel, respectively. Brandon Meriweather, in his third season, has stepped in for Harrison. Veteran Jarvis Green, an eighth-year pro, takes over for Seymour. Veterans Shawn Springs and Leigh Bodden are the two new starting cornerbacks, replacing Ellis Hobbs and Deltha O’Neal.

The only tangible upgrade is at cornerback. Last season, the Patriots allowed the second-most touchdown passes (27) and tied for giving up the second-most 40-plus yards pass plays (12) in the NFL.

The good news is that 6-2, 345-pound nose tackle Vince Wilford is still wreaking havoc.

“We have some outstanding players here,” said Belichick. “Certainly those guys (Bruschi, Vrabel, Harrison and Seymour) have meant a lot to this team and this organization. I think that we have players on this team that have worked hard and know our system. I think they’ll do a good job.”

It’s difficult to learn Belichick’s complex system over the course of one training camp, however, and Schottenheimer may test the young Patriots’ knowledge.

While the Jets plan on going at the Patriots with their “ground and pound,” smash-mouth running game, Schottenheimer could dip into his bag of multiple personnel packages, different shifts, motions and gadgets plays, including the “Wildcat” formation, to make the Patriots defense think on the fly.

“One of the things we hope is with our shifts and motions, maybe we can get them confused a little bit,” said Schottenheimer. “I don’t know if we will. But again, those (veterans) were the guys who got them lined up and made the adjustments.

“I think the faster we play, it’ll make them react to us. They’ll have to make calls. Their defense is very detailed, very organized. They have a lot of rules. I think the faster we play, the harder it’ll be for them to get their rules communicated across the board.”

The newcomers are younger and faster, but are they better? What the departed veterans lacked in speed, they made up for in smarts.

In the Patriots-Bills game, Buffalo had success running the ball and with screen passes — two of the Jets’ strengths. But the Bills scored just 17 offensive points and compiled a modest 276 yards total offense.

“You could see those young guys flying around once they saw what Buffalo was trying to do,” said Cotchery.

“I think with a new style you’re probably going to see some of Bill Belichick’s best work,” he said.

Said Schottenheimer: “I think Bill is probably pretty excited. I really do. He enjoys a challenge. He has a bunch of new chess pieces he can play with. It was sort of like when we got Brett (Favre) here last year. It looks like they’re having fun. Hopefully, we can give them a challenge.”